Anthony Joshua’s family give update on boxer’s | Boxing News

Anthony Joshua is “responding to treatment” in hospital following a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of two of his closest buddies, according to his family. The 36-year-old former world heavyweight boxing champion is anticipated to keep at Duchess International Hospital, where he’s presently described as “stable”, until the New Year.

His mom, Yeta Odusanya, has been by his facet, but other family members haven’t yet been permitted to go to him at the non-public hospital in Lagos. Following the crash, which tragically took the lives of his best buddies, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both 36, around noon on Monday, Joshua reportedly said: “I feel pain all over my body”.

David Joshua, an older brother of Joshua’s father Robert, acknowledged: “We have not been allowed to see him, but from information given by authorities, he is responding to treatment.” Another uncle of the boxer, Adedamola Joshua, disclosed that the famend sportsman had been in Nigeria for less than six hours when the tragedy occurred, reviews the Mirror.

The three males had been en route to the Nigerian metropolis of Sagamu, in the south-west of the nation, to spend the festive season with Joshua’s family. Adedamola expressed: “The incident shook our family deeply. Though our son, Anthony, is alive, two of his friends, who came to celebrate with us, lost their lives.

“This is a critical tragedy, not only for our family, but for Ogun State, Nigeria, and the world at large. We are deeply saddened that two people very close to Anthony didn’t survive. Our hearts are with their households.”

Mr Adedamola also called on authorities to allow limited family access to Joshua. He emphasised the family’s eagerness yet respect for security and medical protocols. His comments came after friends of Joshua expressed concerns that the Olympic gold medallist may be permanently affected by the accident.

While his physical injuries from Monday’s horrific crash are less severe than initially feared, there are worries that he might struggle with the psychological impact of the incident. There are also fears that without the support of his strength and conditioning coach Sina and personal trainer Latif, he may not feel equipped to continue his career.

Lindsey Jacobs was among the many mourners who left flowers and written tributes to Sina at his gym in Colindale, North West London, yesterday. Joshua, affectionately known as AJ, had been spotted there with him just hours before their flight to Nigeria on Saturday.

Caterer Lindsey, whose daughter is friends with the trio, said: “How AJ goes to cope without them I do not know. I do not assume he can go on without his two best mates. They had been best buddies. Like family. The three of them had been inseparable. They went in all places together. He relied on them for the whole lot. I do not assume he is going to cope with this. It’s like both his arms have been cut off.”